Kenwood Excelon DPX-701 Double-DIN CD Receiver

IS BIGGER ALWAYS BETTER? If your dashboard has a double-DIN opening (one that's twice as high as a standard, or DIN-size, slot) and you're thinking of replacing your stock radio, the answer is definitely "yes." Going the supersize route gets you a big head unit with more features, a larger display, and a less cluttered control layout - in other words, you get a head like Kenwood's double-DIN doozy.

FACE THE MUSIC The split-level faceplate, with display on top and controls on the bottom, hints at the DPX-701's versatility. It offers controls for Sirius Satellite Radio and HD Radio, has a dual-source mode so passengers in the front can listen to different music from those in the rear, and features a USB port on the bottom right so you can jack in a thumb drive or any USB-based music player. The DPX-701 has a robust 4 x 50 watts MOSFET amplifier and includes AC Drive software that organizes MP3, AAC, and WMA files on your computer so they can be retrieved by title, artist, album, or genre when you transfer them to the head unit. The AC Drive's Voice Indexing even announces the info out loud. Living large never sounded this good. $450 kenwoodusa.com 800-536-9663